A major new program has been awarded to Aircelle (Safran), with the company's selection to supply nacelles for Airbus' latest A330 version – the A330neo (new engine option) jetliner.

These nacelles are to equip the A330neo's two large Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 turbofan powerplants, and will use Aircelle's experience gained in developing and supplying nacelles for the Airbus A380 jetliner's high-thrust engines – which are in a similar size category.

“This is another endorsement of our company's role as a world-leading engine nacelle supplier, and provides an important addition to our product line, which covers everything from business jets and regional passenger aircraft to the largest jetliners,” said Aircelle Chairman and CEO Martin Sion. “We are committed to making this project a success.”

As with the A380, Aircelle will apply its expertise in the use of composite materials, acoustic treatment and system architecture for the A330neo nacelles. Production activity will involve all of Aircelle's primary industrial sites: Le Havre, France; Burnley, England; and Casablanca, Morocco; with painting, assembly and delivery performed from its Colomiers, France facility located near Airbus' A330 final assembly line at Toulouse Blagnac Airport.

Aircelle currently supplies nacelle packages – including company-built thrust reversers – for in-production A330 variants with Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, having provided nearly 1,400 since the beginning of deliveries in the 1990s.